47 Aug 13th - Aug 19th, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) THE CROSSOVER FOR PEOPLE WHO STILL LIKE DRIVING 2026 MAZDA CX-5 S PREMIUM PLUS The compact SUV world has The compact SUV world has become the khaki pants section become the khaki pants section of the automotive industry. of the automotive industry. Sensible? Absolutely. Useful? Sensible? Absolutely. Useful? You bet. Exciting? Ehhhh. Then You bet. Exciting? Ehhhh. Then there’s the 2026 Mazda CX-5 S there’s the 2026 Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus, which apparently Premium Plus, which apparently didn’t get the memo that didn’t get the memo that crossovers are supposed to suck crossovers are supposed to suck all the personality out of driving. all the personality out of driving. At $41,080, it’s not bargain-bin At $41,080, it’s not bargain-bin transportation, but it looks and transportation, but it looks and feels like Mazda spent the money feels like Mazda spent the money in places you’ll actually notice. in places you’ll actually notice. It’s handsome without screaming It’s handsome without screaming for attention, upscale without for attention, upscale without pretending to be a luxury car, and pretending to be a luxury car, and just different enough to keep you just different enough to keep you from losing it in a Target parking from losing it in a Target parking lot. lot. Under the hood is Mazda’s Under the hood is Mazda’s 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder making 187 horsepower and 186 making 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. Nobody is getting lb-ft of torque. Nobody is getting thrown into the seat here. That’s thrown into the seat here. That’s fine. The CX-5 has never been fine. The CX-5 has never been about winning stoplight drag races about winning stoplight drag races against teenagers in Mustangs. against teenagers in Mustangs. Where Mazda continues to Where Mazda continues to get it right is the way the thing get it right is the way the thing actually drives. The steering feels actually drives. The steering feels connected, the chassis doesn’t connected, the chassis doesn’t flop around when the road gets flop around when the road gets interesting, and there’s a certain interesting, and there’s a certain lightness to everything that lightness to everything that makes you want to take the curvy makes you want to take the curvy road home. Add 24 city and 30 road home. Add 24 city and 30 highway MPG and you’ve got a highway MPG and you’ve got a crossover that’s perfectly happy crossover that’s perfectly happy doing responsible adult things doing responsible adult things without constantly reminding you without constantly reminding you that you’ve become a responsible that you’ve become a responsible adult. adult. That’s really the secret sauce. That’s really the secret sauce. The CX-5 handles Costco, golf The CX-5 handles Costco, golf clubs, road trips, groceries and the clubs, road trips, groceries and the rest of life’s glamorous activities rest of life’s glamorous activities just fine. But when everyone else just fine. But when everyone else gets out of the car, you might gets out of the car, you might actually enjoy driving it by yourself. actually enjoy driving it by yourself. That’s increasingly rare in this That’s increasingly rare in this category. Mazda didn’t give the category. Mazda didn’t give the CX-5 500 horsepower, six feet of CX-5 500 horsepower, six feet of touchscreen or a ridiculous name touchscreen or a ridiculous name like EXTREME ADVENTURE like EXTREME ADVENTURE PRO X. They just remembered PRO X. They just remembered that the person sitting behind the that the person sitting behind the wheel might occasionally want to wheel might occasionally want to have some fun. What a concept. have some fun. What a concept. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles:
